Emma Wood

Professor Emma Wood is a leading academic in event management and tourism at Leeds Beckett University's Carnegie School of Sport, where she also serves as Deputy Editor of the Event Management Journal and Joint Editor of the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. Her research focuses on the transformative power of events in fostering wellbeing, social cohesion, and collective memory. Key areas include event tourism, experiential marketing, and the impact of festivals on community resilience.

Professor Wood leads the 'futurETHinking' initiative, aiding industries in adapting to uncertain futures, and co-leads the UK Centre for Event Management. Her work addresses aging populations through creative event interventions to combat loneliness, as well as exploring memory-sharing practices during crises like the pandemic. She has pioneered methodologies such as 'beyond 2050 polylogues' for strategic foresight in tourism.

Recent research highlights include analyzing the socio-emotional value of shared festival experiences, the role of nostalgia in tourism, and the ethical dimensions of event sustainability. Her contributions bridge academic theory with practical applications, influencing policy frameworks for event-driven community development.